Surgical fastener applying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A surgical stapler is provided. The stapler includes a tubular body portion. A cartridge assembly is disposed at a distal end of the body portion for expelling an annular array of staples. Each of the staples of the annular array of staples has a generally bent backspan. An anvil member disposed at the distal end of the tubular body portion is positioned opposite the cartridge assembly to clinch the staples in tissue upon expulsion of the staples from the cartridge assembly. The anvil member has a corresponding annular array of staple forming buckets. Each of the buckets is configured to accommodate the generally bent configuration of the staples to facilitate formation thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/442,273, filed on Apr. 9, 2012, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/207,653,filed on Aug. 11, 2011, which claims benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/388,788, filed on Oct. 1, 2010, which claims benefitof U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/410,980, filed on Nov. 8, 2010,the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical stapling instruments forapplying surgical fasteners or staples to body tissue and, moreparticularly to surgical stapling instruments utilizing bent backspanstaples and having a corresponding anvil including bent staple formingbuckets.

2. Description of Related Art

Surgical stapling devices for applying an annular array of staples orfasteners to tissue are well known in the art. For example, suchsurgical stapling devices have particular utility in performing smallbowl resection with end-to-end anastomosis. These devices, typically,include a staple pusher assembly or member and an anvil assembly ormember at the distal end of the surgical stapling device. The anvilmember is movable from a retracted configuration for positioning tissuebetween the anvil member and the cartridge assembly, to an advancedconfiguration for joining tissue, i.e., stapling the ends of a tubularorgan in a body of the patient organ to be joined. One or more annularor circular arrays of fasteners, such as, for example, staples, isoperably housed in the cartridge assembly. The anvil member includes oneor more corresponding annular arrays of staple forming bucket membersthat clinch or form (e.g., in a “B” staple formation) the staples afterthe staples are expelled from the cartridge assembly. Generally, thestaples include a straight backspan. As can be appreciated, the anvilbucket members and/or pushers associated with the cartridge assemblyinclude a corresponding configuration, i.e., a generally straightconfiguration, to accommodate the straight backspan of the staples.

For a given staple pusher configuration configured for use with straightbackspan staples, the number of staples that may be present in a givenannular array of staples is limited by the length of the backspan of thestaples and an inside and outside diameter of the cartridge assembly.Moreover, it is, typically, an inside annular array of the staples thatdetermine the number of staples that may be present in each additionalannular array of staples, e.g., middle and outer annular arrays, of thecartridge assembly. That is, an equal number of staples in each of theannular arrays is, typically, provided to allow for consistent overlapat a gap between each consecutive staple; a specific gap distance existsbetween each consecutive staple for each annular array of staples, with,typically, the smallest gap distance between each consecutive stapleexisting in the inner annular array and the gap distance betweenconsecutive staples increasing from the inner annular array to the outerannular array(s). As a result thereof, the gap distances betweenconsecutive staples in the inner and subsequent annular array(s) areunequal. These unequal gap distances are not conducive to obtaining a“tight” staple line. That is, an equal gap distance between consecutivestaples in each annular array of staples may promote better healing ofthe stapled tissue, which, in turn, results in less bleeding and leakageat the stapled tissue line. Unfortunately, the length of the backspan ofthe aforementioned staples is limited by geometry from interfering with,i.e., extending into, the next row of staples. As a result thereof,subsequent to tissue being stapled with conventional surgical staplingdevices, there exists a chance of bleeding and leakage occurring at thestapled tissue line, i.e., adjacent the area between consecutive staplesin the annular array of staples in the outer annular array(s). Or, incertain instance, a compromised stapled tissue line being formed, which,in turn, may result in the stapled tissue separating.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical stapler comprises: atubular body portion; a cartridge assembly disposed at a distal end ofthe body portion for expelling an annular array of staples, each of thestaples of the annular array of staples having legs and a generally bentor curved backspan; and an anvil member disposed at the distal end ofthe tubular body portion and positioned opposite the cartridge assemblyto crimp the staples in tissue upon expulsion of the staples from thecartridge assembly, the anvil member having a corresponding annulararray of staple forming buckets, each of the buckets having a straightconfiguration, the staples being crimped by the buckets so that the legsextend to or beyond the backspan.

In certain embodiments, the cartridge assembly includes an inner annulararray of staples and an outer annular array of staples, and the anvilmember includes an inner annular array and an outer annular array ofstaple forming buckets. A length of each of the staples in the innerannular array of staples can be shorter than a length of the each of thestaples in the outer annular array of staples and a length of each ofthe staple forming buckets in the inner annular array of staple formingbuckets can be shorter than a length of the each of the staple formingbuckets in the outer annular array of staple forming buckets. A gapbetween each consecutive staple in the inner annular array of staplescan be equal to a gap between each consecutive staple in the outerannular array of staples and a gap between each consecutive stapleforming bucket in the inner annular array of staple forming buckets canbe equal to a gap between each consecutive staple forming bucket in theouter annular array of staple forming buckets.

A gap between each consecutive staple in the inner annular array ofstaples can be equal to a gap between each consecutive staple in theouter annular array of staples and a gap between each consecutive stapleforming bucket in the inner annular array of staple forming buckets canbe equal to a gap between each consecutive staple forming bucket in theouter annular array of staple forming buckets.

In certain embodiments, a length of each of the staples in the inner andouter annular array of staples are equal to one another and a length ofeach of the staple forming buckets in the inner and outer annular arrayof staple forming buckets are equal to one another.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical staplercomprises: a tubular body portion; a cartridge assembly disposed at adistal end of the body portion for expelling inner and outer annulararrays of staples having legs and a generally bent or curved backspan,wherein a length of the backspan of the staples in the outer annulararray of staples is greater than a length of the backspan of the staplesin the inner annular array of staples; and an anvil member disposed atthe distal end of the tubular body portion and positioned opposite thecartridge assembly to crimp the staples in tissue upon expulsion of thestaples from the cartridge assembly, the anvil member havingcorresponding inner and outer annular arrays of staple forming buckets,each of the staple forming buckets having a straight configuration, thestaples being crimped by the buckets so that the legs extend to orbeyond the backspan.

In certain embodiments, a gap between each consecutive staple in theinner annular array of staples is equal to a gap between eachconsecutive staple in the outer annular array of staples and a gapbetween each consecutive staple forming bucket in the inner annulararray of staple forming buckets is equal to a gap between eachconsecutive staple forming bucket in the outer annular array of stapleforming buckets.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical staplercomprises: a tubular body portion; a cartridge assembly disposed at adistal end of the body portion for expelling a first annular array ofstaples, each of the staples of the first annular array of stapleshaving a generally straight backspan; and an anvil member disposed atthe distal end of the tubular body portion and positioned opposite thecartridge assembly to crimp the staples in tissue upon expulsion of thestaples from the cartridge assembly, the anvil member having acorresponding first annular array of staple forming buckets, each of thebuckets having a curved or bent configuration such that the annulararrays of staples are crimped beyond the generally straight backspanduring formation thereof to provide a first compressive space.

The surgical stapler may have a second annular array of staples and acorresponding second annular array of staple forming buckets, whereinthe second annular array of staple forming buckets includes a depth thatis less than a depth of the first annular array of staple formingbuckets. The formed staples of the second annular array of staples maybe crimped to provide a second compressive space that is different thanthe first compressive space.

In another aspect, a surgical stapler comprises: a tubular body portion;a cartridge assembly disposed at a distal end of the body portion forexpelling a first annular array of staples, each of the staples of thefirst annular array of staples having a generally angled backspan; andan anvil member disposed at the distal end of the tubular body portionand positioned opposite the cartridge assembly to clinch the staples intissue upon expulsion of the staples from the cartridge assembly, theanvil member having a corresponding first annular array of stapleforming buckets, each of the buckets configured to accommodate thegenerally straight configuration of the staples to facilitate formationthereof such that the annular arrays of staples are crimped beyond thegenerally angled backspan during formation thereof to provide a firstcompressive space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelowwith references to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling apparatus includingan anvil member and a cartridge assembly according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the anvil member and cartridge assemblydepicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art cartridge assembly and anvilmember;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an enlarged area of detail depicted inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a prior art staple having a straightbackspan;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cartridge assembly and array of staplescontained therein depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the array of staples depicted in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the anvil member depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an enlarged area of detail depicted in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an anvil member according to an alternateembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an enlarged area of detail depicted in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is perspective view of a prior art staple;

FIG. 13A is a plan view of an anvil member according to an alternateembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13B is a plan view of an enlarged area of detail depicted in FIG.13A;

FIG. 14A is side view of the prior art staple of FIG. 12 shown in aformed configuration;

FIG. 14B is perspective view of the formed staple of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15A is side view of the prior art staple of FIG. 12 shown in aformed configuration;

FIG. 15B is perspective view of the formed staple of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 16A is perspective view of a staple according to an alternateembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16B is side view of the staple of FIG. 16A shown in a formedconfiguration; and

FIG. 16C is perspective view of the formed staple of FIG. 16B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein;however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of thedisclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specificstructural and functional details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailedstructure.

In the drawings and in the descriptions that follow, the term“proximal,” as is traditional, will refer to the end of a surgicalinstrument that is closer to the user, while the term “distal” willrefer to the end of the surgical instrument that is farther from theuser.

Referring now in specific detail to the drawings, in which likereference numerals identify similar or identical elements throughout theseveral views, FIG. 1 shows a surgical stapling apparatus 10 (apparatus10) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.Apparatus 10 is configured to perform a circular anastomosis of atubular organ. Briefly, apparatus 10 includes a handle assembly 12having one or more pivotable actuating handle members 14 (two pivotablehandle members 14 shown in the drawings). Apparatus 10 includes anadvancing device 16 including a rotatable grip member 18 that isconfigured to approximate an anvil member 26 towards a cartridgeassembly 22. Extending from handle assembly 12 is a tubular body portion20 that includes a generally curved configuration. In certainembodiments, body portion 20 may also be straight and, in otherembodiments, may be flexible to bend to any configuration. Body portion20 terminates in cartridge assembly 22 that is associated with anannular array of staples 24, see FIGS. 1, 6 and 7. Anvil member 26 ispositioned opposite cartridge assembly 22 and is connected to apparatus10 by shaft 28 at connection device or structure (not explicitly shown)operably disposed within the cartridge assembly 22. For a more detaileddescription of the body portion 20, advancing device 16, handle assembly12 including handle members 14 reference is made to commonly-owned U.S.Pat. No. 5,915,616 to Viola et al., filed on Oct. 10, 1997, which isincorporated in its entirety herein by reference. For example, thetubular body portion 20 can include a shaft for connection to the shaft28 and the rotatable grip member 18 when rotated moves the shaft of thebody portion 20 and approximates the anvil member 26 with the staplecartridge assembly 22. The stapling apparatus 10 further includes apusher member, having a plurality of fingers for advancing the staplesout of the cartridge assembly 22 and toward the anvil member. Movementof the pivoting actuating handle members 14 moves the pusher member toeject the staples. The handle assembly 12 includes assemblies for movingthe shaft of the body portion 20 and pusher member. For example, a cammember having a helical groove receives a pin of the grip member 18 sothat as the grip member is rotated, the cam member moves proximally,moving the shaft of the body portion 20. Threaded members and othermeans can be used to actuate the pusher member and move the anvil member26 toward and away from the cartridge assembly 22. It is contemplatedthat the cartridge assembly is a removable and replaceable unit, so thatthe stapling apparatus 10 can be reloaded and used again.

It is also contemplated that the apparatus has a replaceable headincluding the cartridge assembly, anvil member and associatedmechanisms. The stapling apparatus 10 can include the manually actuatedhandle assembly of FIG. 1 and as described above, or can include apowered actuator assembly having first and second drive members. Forexample, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/946,082, filed Nov. 15,2010, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein, discloses a surgical device having a powered actuator assembly.Such actuator assembly can be powered by a motorized handle.

With reference to now to FIGS. 2, 6-9, anvil member 26 and cartridgeassembly 22 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure isillustrated.

Cartridge assembly 22 is configured to house a plurality of staples 24(FIGS. 1, 6 and 7). In particular, cartridge assembly 22 includes anarray of annular slots 30 (FIGS. 1 and 6) that are configured to house acorresponding annular array of staples 24 (FIGS. 6 and 7). In theillustrated embodiment, there are three annular arrays of slots 30including an inner annular array of slots 30 a, a middle annular arrayof slots 30 b and an outer annular array of slots 30 c (collectivelyreferred to herein as slots 30 unless otherwise noted) and threecorresponding annular arrays of staples including an inner annular arrayof staples 24 a, a middle annular array of staples 24 b and an outerannular array of staples 24 c (collectively referred to herein asstaples 24 unless otherwise noted), see FIG. 6. In certain embodiments,cartridge assembly 22 and anvil member 26 may include two annular arraysof staples and corresponding slots.

Slots 30 are aligned with a plurality of corresponding staple pushers(not explicitly shown). In certain embodiments, the staple pushersinclude a generally bent configuration to facilitate expelling thestaples 30 from the cartridge assembly 22. In other embodiments, thestaple pushers may be configured with other configurations, i.e.,straight, rounded, etc.

Staples 24 may be made from any suitable biocompatible materialincluding, but not limited, to surgical steel, shape memory alloys,polymeric materials, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the staples 24are made from surgical steel. In certain embodiments, it may proveadvantageous to have one or more annular array of staples, e.g., innerannular array of staples 24 a, made from one material and one or moreannular array of staples, e.g., middle annular array of staples 24 b andouter annular array of staples 24 c, made from a different material.

Staples 24 are similar to conventional staples, however, unlikeconventional staples (FIG. 5), staples 24 include a backspan 32 having agenerally bent or angled configuration, as best seen in FIG. 7. The bentbackspan of the staples 24 allows the staples to be arranged such thatan equal or consistent gap distance “G” between each consecutive staplein the inner annular array of staples 24 a, middle annular array ofstaples 24 b, and outer annular array of staples 24 c is achievable(FIG. 9), as described in greater detail below.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 7, the operative features of thestaples 24 are described in terms of staples 24 a of the inner annulararray of staples 24 a. Staples 24 a include a pair of legs 36 a having agenerally pointed tip (as best seen in FIG. 7), although the tip mayinclude other suitable configurations, e.g., blunt, flat, beveled, etc.Legs 36 a extend from a backspan 32 a.

Backspan 32 a includes a generally bent or curved configuration, whereina radius of curvature of the backspan 32 a is greatest at a medialportion 38 a (FIG. 7). The radius of curvature at the medial portion 38a may be adjusted to accommodate specific surgical procedures, specificsurgical devices, a number of annular arrays of staples, amanufacturer's contemplated uses, etc. The bent backspan 32 a of thestaples 24 a allows the staples 24 a to be arranged in the inner annulararray staples 24 a with a minimum gap distance “G” between eachconsecutive staple 24 a. That is, unlike conventional staples withstraight backspans, the bent backspan 32 a of the staple 24 a isconfigured to follow a contour of the cartridge assembly 22 and, thus,allow a “tighter” grouping of the staples 24 a (i.e., a higher densityof staples) in the inner annular array of staples 24 a. Moreover, a bentbackspan 32 b and 32 c of the staples 24 b and 24 c, respectively,allows the lengths of the staples in these annular arrays to be largerthan the lengths of the staples 24 a in the annular array of staples 24a. That is, because of the bent backspans 32 b and 32 c of respectivestaples 24 b and 24 c, a length of the staples 24 b and 24 c can beincreased to accommodate “overlapping” of specific gap distances “G”between consecutive staples 24 a in the annular array of staples 24 a.For example, and with specific reference to FIG. 7, each staple 24 a inthe inner annular array of staples 24 a includes a length “A” and a gapbetween each consecutive staple 24 a in the inner annular array ofstaples 24 a is equal to gap “G.” The length of staples 24 b in themiddle annular array of staples 24 b includes a length “B” that islarger than the length “A” of the staples 24 a, and a gap between eachconsecutive staple 24 b in the middle annular array of staples 24 b isequal to the gap “G” (see FIG. 7). The length of staples 24 c in theouter annular array of staples 24 c includes a length “C” that is largerthan the lengths “A” and “B” of the respective staples 24 a and 24 c,and a gap between each consecutive staple 24 c in the outer annulararray of staples 24 c is equal to the gap “G” (see FIG. 7).

As can appreciated, the “tighter” grouping of the staples 24 a-24 callows the staples to “nested” and, thus, more closely packed togetherwith respect to one another for a given cartridge assembly 22 whencompared to staples with straight backspans. This “nested” configurationof the staples 24 a-24 c provides an increased inside diameter ofstaples 24 a when compared to staples with straight backspans.

With reference now to FIGS. 8 and 9, anvil member 26 includescorresponding annular arrays of staple forming buckets 40 including aninner annular array of staple forming buckets 40 a, a middle annulararray of buckets 40 b and an outer annular array of buckets 40 c. Unlikeconventional staple forming buckets (FIGS. 3 and 4), each of the stapleforming buckets 40 a, 40 b and 40 c are configured to accommodate thegenerally bent configuration of the corresponding staples 24 a, 24 b and24 c to facilitate formation thereof. To this end, each of the buckets40 a, 40 b and 40 c include a generally bent or curved configuration andis proportioned to respective staples 24 a, 24 b and 24 c therein suchthat the staples 24 a, 24 b and 24 c have a generally “B” configurationupon formation thereof. A radius of curvature of the staple formingbuckets 40 a, 40 b and 40 c is greatest at a medial portion 38 a tomatch the radius of curvature of the corresponding staples 24 a, 24 band 24 c.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the dimensions of the stapleforming bucket 40 a in the inner annular array of staple forming buckets40 a is substantially equal to the dimensions of the correspondingstaples 24 a. In particular, the staple forming bucket 40 a is slightlylarger than the staple 24 a to facilitate forming the staple 24 a intothe “B” formation. A gap between each consecutive staple forming bucket40 a in the inner annular array of staple forming bucket 40 a is equalto gap “G₁.” In the illustrated embodiment, the gap “G₁” is illustratedless than the gap “G” as a result of the staple forming bucket 40 abeing larger than the staple 24 a. Alternatively, and in certainembodiments, the gap “G₁” may be equal to the gap “G.” Similarly, thedimensions of the staple forming buckets 40 b and 40 c of the middle andouter annular arrays of staple forming buckets 40 b and 40 c aresubstantially equal to the dimensions of the corresponding staples 24 band 24 c of the middle and outer annular arrays of staples 24 b and 24c. The gap between each consecutive staple forming buckets 40 b and 40 cis equal to the gap “G₁” between each consecutive staple forming bucket40 a, see FIG. 9.

In use, tissue, e.g., a portion of a tubular organ, is positionedbetween the anvil member 26 and cartridge assembly 22. Rotatable grip 18of the advancing device 16 is actuated to approximate the anvil member26 towards the cartridge assembly 22. Handles 14 may be pivoted to driveor expel the staples 24 through the tissue against the anvil member 26to complete a circular anastomosis of a tubular organ.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the annular arrays of formedstaples 24 a, 24 b and 24 c form a “tight” staple line by virtue of theconsistent gap “G” between consecutive staples 24 a, 24 b and 24 c inthe inner, middle and outer annular arrays of staples 24 a, 24 b and 24c, and the likelihood of bleeding or leaking occurring betweenconsecutive staples 24 a, 24 b and 24 c in the inner, middle and outerannular arrays of staples 24 a, 24 b and 24 c is reduced, if noteliminated. The unique bent configuration of the staples 24 a, 24 b and24 c and corresponding staple forming buckets 40 a, 40 b and 40 covercomes the aforementioned drawbacks typically associated withconventional surgical stapling devices. That is, gaps “g1,” “g2,” and“g3” (FIGS. 3 and 4) between consecutive staple forming buckets inrespective inner, middle and outer annular arrays of conventionalsurgical stapling devices, increase from the inner annular array towardthe outer annular array, i.e., “g1”<“g2”<“g3;” as can be appreciated,the formed staples in tissue will be spaced apart from one another at adistance that corresponds to the gap distances “g1,” “g2,” and “g3,” ofthe staple forming buckets. As noted above, these “unequal” gapdistances are not conducive in obtaining a “tight” staple line.

From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings,those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications canalso be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scopeof the same. For example, while the staples 24 a, 24 b and 24 c andcorresponding staple forming buckets 40 a, 40 b and 40 c have beendescribed herein as having different lengths, it is within the purviewof the present disclosure that the staples 24 a, 24 b and 24 c andcorresponding staple forming buckets 40 a, 40 b and 40 c may have thesame lengths (FIGS. 10 and 11). In this embodiment, the staples (notexplicitly shown) and corresponding staple forming buckets 140 includinginner, middle and outer annular arrays of staple forming buckets 140a-140 c have the same length. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10and 11, an equal number of staple forming buckets 140 are shown in theinner annular array of staple forming buckets 140 a, middle annulararray of staple forming buckets 140 b and outer annular array of stapleforming buckets 140 c. This embodiment may prove advantageous where a“tight” staple line is not required.

In the instance where a “tight” staple line is required, however, theunique bent backspan of the staples and corresponding staple formingbuckets 140 b-140 c allows for one or more extra staples (or largerstaples) and corresponding staple forming buckets 140 b-140 c to beprovided in the middle and outer annular arrays of staples andcorresponding staple forming buckets 140 b-140 c. That is, for a givencartridge assembly and anvil, the geometry, e.g., bent backspan, of thestaples and corresponding staple forming buckets 140 b-140 c follows acontour of the cartridge assembly and anvil, respectively, and, as aresult thereof, allows extra staples and staple forming buckets 140 b tobe provided in the annular array of staple forming buckets 140 b withoutinterfering with staples and staple forming buckets 140 c. And,likewise, allows extra staples and staple forming buckets 140 c to beprovided in the annular array of staple forming buckets 140 c withoutinterfering or extending into an outer peripheral edge of the cartridgeassembly and anvil. The extra staples and corresponding staple formingbuckets 140 a-140 c may be provided to sufficiently overlap the gapsbetween consecutive staples and staple forming buckets 140 a-140 c.

With reference to FIGS. 12-15B an alternate embodiment of the staple andstaple forming buckets are illustrated designated 224 (FIGS. 12) and 240(FIGS. 13A and 13B), respectively. Only those features unique to staples224 and staple forming buckets 240 are discussed herein.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12-15B, staples 224 and stapleforming buckets 240 may be utilized to provide formed staples withdifferent internal spaces for compressing tissue to achieve a desiredlevel of hemostasis and blood flow in stapled tissue segments. In oneparticular embodiment, for example, an inner annular row of staples 224a (staples 224 a) may provide a greater compressive space (FIGS. 14A and14B) for stapling tissue than an outer annular row of staples 224 b(staples 224 b), see FIGS. 15A and 15B. In other words, staples 224 b ina formed configuration provide a greater compressive force to stapledtissue than the staples 224 a in a formed configuration. Thus, because apressure exerted on tissue stapled by staples 224 b is greater than thepressure exerted on tissue stapled by staples 224 a, the blood flowthrough the tissue surrounding staples 224 b will be less (morerestricted) than the blood flow through the tissue surrounding staples224 a, thereby further facilitating hemostasis. However, because bloodflow is not completely restricted through tissue stapled by staples 224b, blood perfusion is improved and unnecessary necrosis of the stapledtissue may be prevented and/or impeded.

Staples 224 a and 224 b include respective staple legs 236 a (FIGS.14A-14B) and 236 b (FIGS. 15A-15B) that extend from backspans 232 a, 232b. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12-15B, staple legs 236 a and236 b have the same length as each other, and backspans 232 a, 232 binclude a “straight” configuration to facilitate forming staples 224 a,224 b in the staple forming buckets 240 a, 240 b (FIGS. 13A and 13B).

Staple forming buckets 240 are described herein in terms of innerannular row of staple forming buckets 240 a (buckets 240 a) and outerannular row of staple forming buckets 240 b (buckets 240 a), see FIGS.13A and 13B. As can be appreciated, greater or fewer rows of buckets 240may be utilized.

Each of buckets 240 a and 240 b are configured to receive correspondingstaples 224 a and 224 b therein to form the staples 224 a and 224 b.Buckets 240 a and 240 b include an angled configuration to facilitateforming the respective staples 224 a and 224 b. Unlike the previouslydescribed staple forming buckets, however, buckets 240 a include depththat is different from a depth of buckets 240 b to facilitate formingthe staples 224 a and 224 b with different compressive spaces. Forexample, and in one particular embodiment, buckets 240 a include a depththat is greater than a depth of the buckets 240 b to form the staples224 a with a compressive space “CS1” (FIG. 14A) that is greater than acompressive space “CS2” (FIG. 15A) of the staples 224 b. Specifically,the angled buckets 240 a, 240 b having different depths in combinationwith the staples 224 a, 224 b having respective straight backspans 232a, 232 b and legs 236 a and 236 b with the same length allows thestaples 224 a, 224 b to formed with different compressive spaces, seeFIGS. 14B and 15B for example. That is, this specific combination ofstaples 224 a, 224 b and buckets 240 a, 240 b allows staples 224 b to becrimped beyond the backspan 232 b (FIGS. 15A-15B) to provide acompressive space “CS2” that is less than a compressive space “CS1”provided by the staples 224 a such that tissue stapled by staples 224 bis under greater pressure than tissue stapled by staples 224 a. In thisway, the backspan does not interfere with the deformation of the legs ofthe staples, and the degree of crimping can be varied. The staples canbe crimped by the buckets so that the legs of the staples extend to orbeyond the backspan without interference from the backspan.

In certain embodiments, it may prove advantageous to have the staples224 a exert a greater pressure to stapled tissue than the staples 224 b.In this embodiment, buckets 240 a will include a depth that is less thana depth of the buckets 240 b.

In certain embodiments, each of the staples 224 a, 224 b may be crimpedbeyond the respective backspans 232 a, 232 b. For example, the buckets240 a may have a depth that is configured to crimp the staples 224 abeyond the backspan 232 a such that the compressive space providedtherefrom is greater than or less than the compressive space provided bystaples 224 b.

In one particular embodiment, the buckets 240 a, 240 b may have the samedepth and the staple legs 236 a, 236 b may have different lengths toachieve the aforementioned compressive spaces. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate the various lengths of the staple legs 236 a, 236 b thatwill be needed to achieve a specific compressive space when the staples224 a and 224 b are formed.

In certain embodiments, the operation of the advancing device 16, thepusher member, or both, can be utilized to vary the degree to which thestaples are deformed or crimped. For example, by approximating the anvilmember more closely with the cartridge assembly, the staples are crimpedwith a relatively smaller internal space and the tissue is compressed toa greater degree. Alternatively, the pusher member can be furtheradvanced, further crimping or deforming the staples. Desirably, there isan indicator on the stapling apparatus handle assembly 12 that allowsthe surgeon to gauge the degree to which the staples will be crimped.The variable crimp can be used in any of the embodiments disclosedherein, including embodiments in which different sized (preformation)staples are used, same sized staples are used, bent or curved backspanstaples are used, and/or bent or curved staple forming buckets are used.

In some embodiments, such as the one illustrated in FIGS. 16A-16C, thebuckets (not explicitly shown) may have a generally straightconfiguration and the staples 324 may include a backspan 332 having agenerally angled configuration to facilitate crimping the staples 324beyond the backspan 332. In this way, the backspan does not interferewith the deformation or crimping of the legs of the staples. The staplescan be crimped by the buckets so that the legs extend to or beyond thebackspan, without interference from the backspan. In one particularembodiment, for example, a formed staple 324 a with legs 336 a extendingfrom an angled backspan 332 a may provide a compressive space that issimilar to compressive space “CS1” (FIG. 16B) and formed staple 324 bwith legs 336 b extending from an angled backspan 332 b may provide acompressive space that is similar to compressive space “CS2” (FIG. 16C).The straight configuration of the buckets can be used with any of theembodiments disclosed herein, including stapling apparatus that vary thedegree of crimping or deformation of the staples, as well as embodimentsin which different sized (preformation) staples are used, or same sizedstaples are used.

It is also contemplated that the stapling apparatus can be configured toapply three rows of staples, and that the staples can have more than onebend in the backspan, or a curved backspan that is irregular (i.e.,having more than one radius), in any of the embodiments disclosedherein.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in thedrawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, asit is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art willallow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the abovedescription should not be construed as limiting, but merely asexemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the artwill envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of theclaims appended hereto.

1. (canceled)
 2. A surgical stapler, comprising: a tubular body portion; a cartridge assembly disposed at a distal end of the body portion for expelling annular arrays of staples, each of the staples of the annular arrays of staples having legs and a generally bent or curved backspan, a length of each of the staples in an inner annular array of staples being shorter than a length of each of the staples in an outer annular array of staples; and an anvil member disposed at the distal end of the tubular body portion and positioned opposite the cartridge assembly to crimp the staples in tissue upon expulsion of the staples from the cartridge assembly, the anvil member having a corresponding annular array of staple forming buckets.
 3. A surgical stapler according to claim 2, wherein the staples are crimped by the buckets so that the legs extend beyond the backspan.
 4. A surgical stapler according to claim 2, wherein the anvil member includes an inner annular array and an outer annular array of the staple forming buckets.
 5. A surgical stapler according to claim 2, further comprising a second outer array of staples.
 6. A surgical stapler according to claim 4, wherein a gap between each consecutive staple in the inner annular array of staples is equal to a gap between each consecutive staple in the outer annular array of staples and a gap between each consecutive staple forming bucket in the inner annular array of staple forming buckets is equal to a gap between each consecutive staple forming bucket in the outer annular array of staple forming buckets.
 7. A surgical stapler according to claim 4, wherein a length of each of the staples in the inner and outer annular array of staples are equal to one another and a length of each of the staple forming buckets in the inner and outer annular array of staple forming buckets are equal to one another. 